Hi Sandwich.

I can understand your worries. But when I was diagnosed, my PSA was way up at 70. But due to my dear wife making me go to the doctors, it was caught early. I was treated with hormone therapy and also radiotherapy and my psa dropped down to 0.01, the lowest they can measure. It is still very low some years later so I hope you can take comfort in my story. 

I wish you and your husband good results. Please let us know how he gets on, Brian

Hello woodworm and telemando, thank you for your kind words and useful information. Well the results show prostate cancer but looks to be contained. Will receive a letter for a biopsy appointment and then radiotherapy. Half expected but still a shock when you actually hear the diagnosis :(

He was given the choice to have the prostate removed, but seems to have opted for radiotherapy due to the side effects. I'm not sure whether it would be better just to have the operation and at least have reassurance that it was all removed??

Hi sandwich2

Really sorry to hear of your hubby's diagnosis. However, it sounds like it's been caught early and the doctors are talking of a cure, not just a long-term containment.

Speaking personally, and this is just my personal opinion, I would suggest he gives the surgical option a long hard look before dismissing it. There is no treatment option that is without side effects, and the side effects of radiotherapy need to be carefully considered, too. In my case, I was guided away from radiotherapy because I already had long term irritable bowel disease, and radiotherapy can definitely cause bowel problems.

If your hubby is being offered surgery at one of the state of the art hospitals where they're doing many operations a week using robots, then this could be a good option to consider. My own surgery was done at a big hospital in Bristol using Da Vinci robots, with a team doing 6 or more operations a week. Sadly, I could only have one sided nerve saving so I still have erection issues (but that doesn't stop me from having great orgasms). I recovered urinary continence after 3 months, and stopped wearing pads after 6. I still continue doing the pelvic floor exercises. 

With prostate cancer, there is usually time to consider the options carefully and not rush into a decision. In the end, however, it is a personal decision and at some point you have to throw the dice and cast your fate to the winds.

I'm always happy to talk further on this. 

Hi sandwich2

Really sorry to hear of your hubby's diagnosis. However, it sounds like it's been caught early and the doctors are talking of a cure, not just a long-term containment.

Speaking personally, and this is just my personal opinion, I would suggest he gives the surgical option a long hard look before dismissing it. There is no treatment option that is without side effects, and the side effects of radiotherapy need to be carefully considered, too. In my case, I was guided away from radiotherapy because I already had long term irritable bowel disease, and radiotherapy can definitely cause bowel problems.

If your hubby is being offered surgery at one of the state of the art hospitals where they're doing many operations a week using robots, then this could be a good option to consider. My own surgery was done at a big hospital in Bristol using Da Vinci robots, with a team doing 6 or more operations a week. Sadly, I could only have one sided nerve saving so I still have erection issues (but that doesn't stop me from having great orgasms). I recovered urinary continence after 3 months, and stopped wearing pads after 6. I still continue doing the pelvic floor exercises. 

With prostate cancer, there is usually time to consider the options carefully and not rush into a decision. In the end, however, it is a personal decision and at some point you have to throw the dice and cast your fate to the winds.

I'm always happy to talk further on this. 

Hi telemando,

Really interesting to read your comments. I am 63 diagnosed with prostate cancer with Gleason score of 4-3 all contained and clear bone scan, My PSA was 6.1 in May 2018.. I am booked in for surgery to have prostate removed on December 10th. My problem is with having no symptoms whatsover I am finding it hard to beleive I have the cancer at all. Due to my age and general good health all the experts have advised me to have the surgery, even the the doctors i work with have said surgery is the best option for me. The urology nurse also states that this is a cure and not treatment. Yor comments have really helped me coming to terms with this. One question if I may, did you have any symptoms when diagnosed?.

hope you carry on being well, and to everyone else in this forum good luck. I am very nervous about the forthcoming months ahead but also i am a little reassured that this will soon be cured and not just treated. Good luck everyone.

Also i will be happy to answer any questions and help anybody in the future if I can.

Hi Tommo. Welcome to the forum.

I personally did have some symptoms of a swollen prostate and prostatitis. However, after my operation a prostate support group started in my home town, and I've met a number of fellow sufferers. Most of them with early stage cancer said that they had no symptoms other than a raised PSA. A lot of them also were generally fit and healthy, and found their diagnosis to be a shock, a bolt out of the blue. 

Thank you for your good wishes. May I also wish you a good outcome and a speedy recovery.  

Hope my story helps due to AUR several years ago I have had several PSA tests MRI Biopsy other tests no Cancer found my PSA is taken every 6-12 months it has fluctuated from 5 to 12.1 when it was at its highest was because and incomoetent consultant took me over Finasteride now back on it dropped by over half the one consultant I trust stated MRI  showed my prostate is X4 bigger and my PSA is about where they expect been discharged back to GP latest test a week ago he just wants informal chat not sure why as it is at its lowest level ever some tips if it fluctuates normally a good sign if it rises bit by bit its not if it goes into 20s and higher not so good the key question related my story have you enlarged prostate if so its almost certainly the reason and if DRE finds nothing if it is PCA then its contained I would recommend an MRI its the most accurate Biopsy is hit and miss hope this helps

Hi hope you don't mind me butting in, there's so many chat lines checking them all takes ages. I only found yours this morning I've talked to woodworm (Brian) before, when they found my cancer my psa was 1500 gleason 8 they told me that it was not curable it had gone to bone (spine, pelvis and ribs) & 1 lung. This was 2016 Feb on hormone therapy for rest of life had chemo to stop it going any further dec 2018 psa 0.4 it's going to go up again then I have some more chemo, I have wrote in other places, living with cancer and prostate cancer hope everything keeps going well.Iwas ill before I new about the cancer, but it was because I had a hernia I was lucky because if not being checked out cancer would have gone a lot further.

Billy 

HI Billy i will include you in my prayers and pray to getbetter. How does hormone therapy make you feel. Im worried mainly about losing my sex drvie which i read about.

Hi herc what sex drive to much damage done by cancer (at least I had a great time when I was younger) been married over 45 years worst thing is hot flushes I mean Hot had them over 3 years now but rest of life is something else. One thing I did learn is went for injection saw nurse she said back in a minute she came back said someone had given her the cheaper medication she said there are other meds but they don't do the job as well trouble is I don't always see same one so I don't know what I'm getting some times. Anyways best of luck.

Billy 

HI Billy, i pray you get better and things get easier. Thanks for sharing. Herc

Hello 

I am 65 just had result from blood test my PSA is 27. Doctor called me in and gave me a test from the rear and finding was that in he's words it should feel like a peach, but actually feels like a walnut. This all happened 2days ago and to be honst I am still a little shocked. I am and have always been in good health. Reason for going to Docs is because my wee flow had slowed down and at times did not feel like emptying out acompletely. Waiting now for appointment 

Hi Ham

This is basically what happened to me, but it was my wife made me go to the GP for as soon as I heard water splashing in our metal sink I had to run to the loo. My psa was higher than yours at 70 and I have made a very good recovery thanks to our brilliant doctors and nurses in the NHS

So I hope you take take heart from my experiance.

Best wishes, Brian

Hi Ham. Welcome to the forum that no one ever wants to join.

Just so you know what to expect at your appointment. You'll meet with the consultant who will discuss your medical history, probably repeat the finger in the bum test, and then almost certainly refer you for an MRI which is usually followed by a prostate biopsy (sometimes it's done the other way round). 

Then it's a tense wait for results, I'm afraid, and that's never easy.  I went through this back in 2010 so I know what it's like. 

If you have any more questions, or just want to chat, that's why we're here.  Please let us know how you get on, because your feedback helps us to improve our answers.